Basket ball backstop



Aug. 29, 1933. o. c. SCHULZ BASKET BALL BACKSTOP Filed Nov. I931 ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 29, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 9 Claims.

This invention relates to basket ball back stops and the primary object is to provide a novel back stop which may be moved from operative position to be out of the Way when not in use.

Fraternal organizations, schools and the like,

often have a room which is used as an auditorium at times and which at other times is used as a basket ball court. The back stops of a basket ball court are customarily permanently mounted as by being suspended from the ceiling of the room, or on struts extending from the wall, or on standards fastened to the fioor, and often present a more or less unsightly appearance, and such permanently mounted back stops are objectionable for other reasons. There is usually a storage space in connection With such rooms in which gymnasium equipment, chairs and the like are stored and another object of my invention is to provide a basket ball back stop which may be placed in the storage space when not in use and which may be easily moved into the room and arranged in proper position for use.

Further objects are to provide a basket ball back stop which may be collapsed so as to occupy a minimum of space when not in use; which embodies an operating device for moving the collapsible portions to and from operative position; and which is simple and economical in construction.

In the selected embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawing Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my novel back stop;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation; 35 Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view taken substantially on the line 33 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is adetail'sectional view taken substantially on the line 44 of Fig. 2.

The novel back stop of my invention shown in 40 the accompanying drawing embodies a substantially rectangular frame 5 having posts 6 extending from one edge thereof. The posts 6 are providecl with suitable flanged fittings '7 to facilitate fastening thereof to the frame 5. At the outer 4 ends of the posts 6 T-fittings 8 are secured and a cross-bar 9 has the opposite ends thereof secured in the fittings 8. Nipples such as 10 are secured in the fittings 8 and secure the T-fittings 11 in position outwardly of the fittings 8. Braces 12 are secured in the fittings 11 and extend diagonally with respect to the posts 6 to the edge of the frame opposite that whereat the posts are mounted and fittings 13 are provided for securing the braces 12 to the frame 5. Thus the crossbar 9 is rigidly supported on the frame 5. R0-

tatable on the cross-bar 9 and extending 'between the T fittings 8 is a sleeve 14. Combination fittings 15 are secured to the sleeve 14 adjacent the ends thereof. Arms 16 and 17 have corresponding ends thereof secured in the combination fittings 15 and at the outer ends of the arms 16 and 17 are fittings 18 and 19 secured to the rear of the back stop board 20. The fittings 18 are secured to the board adjacent the lower edge and the fittings 19 are secured to the board adjacent the upper edge thereof. The usual basket 21 is mounted on the front of the board 20. The sleeve 14 is mounted for turning about the cross-bar 9 and therefore the board 20 may be moved from the operative position shown in full lines in Fig. 1 into the inoperative position shown in broken lines on said figure. To facilitate turning of the slecvel4 about the crossbar 9, a worm wheel 22 is fast thereon intermediate the hubs 23 and a housing 24. is provided having bearings therein in which the upper end of a shaft 25 is journaled. Fast on the shaft 25 intermediate the bearings in the housing 24, is

a Worm gear 26 meshed with the worm wheel 22. The lower end of the shaft 25 is journaled in a bearing 26 at the outer end of the arm 27 carried by the fittings 28 mounted on the adjacent post 6. At the end of the shaft 25 beyond the bearing 26 is a crank 29. By turning the crank 1 29 the shaft 25 may be rotated whereby the worm gear 26 will operate the Worm wheel 22 t0 rotate the sleeve 14 whereby the board 20 may be moved between the positions illustrated in Fig. 1. To insure accurate orientation of the board 20 in operative, position, an adjustable stop 30 is associated with the worm wheel 22 and when this stop engages the housing 24 the board 20 will be properly positioned. The frame 5 may be secured on a wall with the side thereof, to which the posts 6 are secured, adjacent the floor. The frame 5 may also be secured to the ceiling of the room and When this is done the shaft 25 will be extended in a direction opposite to that illustrated. However, in the illustrated embodi- 1 ment of the invention, casters 31 are provided on the frame 5 and these casters are rested on the floor so that the frame may be easily moved into proper position. Preferably the casters are of the type which may be pivoted out of engagement with the floor when the frame is properly located and suitable means are provided for fastening the frame to the fioor. Floor bolts may be employed for this purpose or suitable weights may be used. When the frame 5 is to rest on I the floor, a weight 32 is secured along the side thereof whereat the fittings 13 are fastened and this weight counterbalances the overhanging weight of the board 20 when it is arranged in operative position. The posts 6 are preferably of a height which will easily pass through an ordinary door and the angular extent of the arms 16 and 1'7 is such that when the face of the board 20 is perpendicular to the floor, the lower edge of said board will be spaced from the floor in the distance required by the rules of the game of basket ball. The posts 6, braces 12 and arms 16 and 17 are preferably made of pipe to reduce the weight of the structure and are large enough to impart rigidity.

It is manifest from the foregoing description that I have provided a basket ball back stop that may be either mounted on a wall or ceiling in a manner which will permit movement thereof to and from operating position or which may be arranged on a movable frame to permit the back stop to be kept in a storage space when not in use. The frame is preferably provided with casters to facilitate movement thereof from the storage space to the position whereat it is to be used. By providing the worm and worm wheel the board of the back stop may be moved easily to and from operative position and the board is firmly supported when in operative position. The device is made of a size that will expedite movement thereof to and from the storage space.

In the foregoing description I have set forth a selected embodiment of the invention but it is to be understood that this is capable of variation and modification and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth but desire to avail myself of such changes and alterations as fall within the purview of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a device of the class described, a frame, a

' cross-bar carried by said frame, sets of arms pivotally mounted on said cross-bar in spaced relation, a board, means connecting the outer end of each arm of said sets of arms to said board adjacent a corner thereof, and means for holding said board in a predetermined position.

2. In a device of the class described, a rigidly supported cross-bar, a sleeve on said cross-bar, arms having corresponding ends thereof secured to said sleeve, a board at the free ends of said arms, and means for holding said sleeve against movement about said cross-bar whereby said board may be held in a predetermined position.

3. In a device of the class described, a rigidly supported cross-bar, a sleeve on said cross-bar, arms having corresponding ends thereof secured to said sleeve, a board at the free ends of said arms, and means for turning said sleeve about said cross-bar whereby said board may be moved to and from an operative position.

4. In a device of the class described, a rigidly supported cross-bar, arms mounted for pivotal movement about said cross-bar, a board at the free ends of said arms, and means for moving said arms relative to said cross-bar whereby said board may be moved to and from an operative position.

5. In a device of the class described, a frame, posts extending from said frame, a cross-bar carried by said posts, means for bracing said crossbar, arms pivotal about said cross-bar, a board at the free ends of said arms, and means for holding said arms against pivotal movement relative to said cross-bar whereby said board may be held in a predetermined position.

6. In a device of the class described, a frame, posts extending from said frame, a cross-bar carried by said posts, means for bracing said crossbar, a sleeve movable about said cross-bar, arms secured to said sleeve, a board mounted at the free ends of said arms, and means for holding said sleeve against movement whereby said board may be held in a predetermined position.

7. In a device of the class described, a frame, posts extending from said frame, a cross-bar carried by said posts, means for bracing said crossbar, a sleeve movable about said cross-bar, arms secured to said sleeve, a board mounted at the free ends of said arms, and means including intermeshed gears for moving said sleeve about said cross-bar whereby said board may be moved to and from an operative position.

8. In a device of the class described, a frame, posts extending from said frame, a crossbar carried by said posts, means for bracing said crossbar, a sleeve movable about said cross-bar, arms secured to said sleeve, a board mounted at the free ends of said arms, means including intermeshed gears for moving said sleeve about said cross-bar whereby said board may be moved to and from an operative position, and means for limiting movement of said sleeve to accurately position said board in operative position.

9. In a device of the class described, a frame, means supporting said frame for movement over a floor, a cross-bar carried by said frame, arms movable about said cross-bar, a board at the free ends of said arms, means for holding said arms against movement whereby said board may be supported in an overhanging position relative to said frame, and means on said frame for counterbalancing the weight of said board when in saidv 13 overhanging position.

OTTO C. SCHULZ. 

